Toni Kamau

Toni Kamau
Born1980s
Kenya
EducationUniversity of Nairobi
Occupations
  • Documentary producer
  • Consulting producer
  • Fiction writer
Years active2009–present
Organizations
  • We are not the Machine
  • On Screen Productions Ltd
  • Mohamed Amin Foundation
Notable work
Awards

Toni Kamau (born 1980s) is a Kenyan documentary producer and fiction writer. She is known for producing the feature documentaries Softie, I Am Samuel and The Battle for Laikipia. Her work has been showcased at international film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival. In 2024, she received the Sundance Amazon MGM Studios Nonfiction Producer Award for The Battle for Laikipia.[1][2]

Kamau is a member of the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as the Producers Guild of America and the Producers Guild of Kenya.[3] She also serves on the board of the International Documentary Association.[4][5]

Early life and education

Kamau was born and raised in Kenya. She has described her early exposure to media as limited, with access primarily to international programming such as BBC News, CNN, Cheers, and Monty Python.[3] This early experience influenced her perspective on storytelling, driving her focus toward producing narratives that accurately reflect African societies, identities, and lived experiences.[6]

Career

Kamau began her career in television production as a series producer for Hatua, a human rights-focused talk show supported by the Open Society Initiative.[7]

She later co-founded On Screen Productions Ltd alongside Wanzilu Mangi and Christine Kinyanjui.[8] The company operated between 2009 and 2018 and produced content for clients including Safaricom and the M-Pesa Foundation.[9] It also provided production services for international media and fashion projects, including the 2016 Vogue cover shoot featuring Lupita Nyong’o.[10] During her time with On Screen Productions, Kamau also directed and produced factual television content, including the documentary short Silicon Savannah for the BBC and TVE.[11]

In 2017, Kamau founded the production company We Are Not the Machine, a Kenya-based company focused on storytelling about African communities and global social issues.[12] Through the company, she has collaborated with international organizations and media outlets. Her commissioned and service-produced documentary content has aired on major international networks, including Al Jazeera, MTV Europe, Bloomberg, Voice of America, BBC Africa, and ARTE Digital.[13]

Her independent feature producing credits include several internationally recognized documentaries. Softie [14], directed by Sam Soko, followed the political campaign of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival,[15] where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award.[16] I Am Samuel, directed by Peter Murimi, premiered at Hot Docs.[17] In 2024, The Battle for Laikipia, an exploration of land conflicts in Kenya co-directed by Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murimi, premiered at Sundance and received international critical attention.[18][19]

Toni Kamau, 2026 Sundance Film Festival World Documentary

In recognition of her work, Kamau has been nominated for Peabody and News Emmy Awards.[3] In 2020, she was invited to join the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, becoming the youngest female African documentary producer to be admitted to the branch at the time.[20] Her influence in the global film community was further recognized in January 2026 when she was appointed as a juror for the Sundance Film Festival.[3]

In addition to documentary work, Kamau has been involved in the development of fiction and episodic projects, including Money Town and Tithes and Offerings.[21][22]

Filmography

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2025–present Tithes and Offerings Producer Feature film (in development)
2025–present Money Town Producer Series (in development)
2025–present Constant Bloom Producer Feature film (in development)
2024 The Battle for Laikipia Producer Documentary feature
2018 Earn a Living Producer, writer Interactive documentary series
2020 I Am Samuel Producer Documentary feature
— Hatua Series producer Television talk show
2006 Kibera Kid Production assistant Short film
2020 Softie Producer Documentary feature

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult Ref
2026Women in Film Awards KenyaBest Documentary ProducerThe Battle for LaikipiaWon [3]
2024Sundance InstituteAmazon MGM Nonfiction Producer PrizeThe Battle for LaikipiaWon [23][3]
2022duPont-Columbia AwardsSilver BatonSoftieWon [3]
2021Women in Film Awards KenyaBest Documentary ProducerThe Battle for LaikipiaWon [24]
2021 PGA Awards Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures Softie Nominated [8][25]
2021 International Documentary Association Best Feature Softie Nominated [12][2]
2021 African Movie Academy Awards Best Documentary Softie Won [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Announcing the Recipients of the 2024 Sundance Institute Amazon MGM Studios Producers Awards". Sundance Institute. 2024.
  2. 1 2 Nzyoka, Nzula (2024-01-29). "Toni Kamau wins non-fiction prize at Sundance". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kenyan producer Toni Kamau appointed juror for Sundance 2026". Daily Nation. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  4. ↑ "Bob Berney, Paula Ossandon Cabrera, Toni Kamau appointed to IDA board". Deadline. 2024.
  5. ↑ Carey, Matthew (2024-10-17). "Bob Berney, Paula Ossandón Cabrera, Toni Kamau Join Board Of International Documentary Association". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  6. ↑ Mahugu, Jacqueline. "Charting her own course through storytelling". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  7. ↑ odette-hooper (2014-03-18). "International Level Television and Film Training in East Africa". SlideServe. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  8. 1 2 Nzyoka, Nzula (2023-08-25). "Q and A with award-winning creative producer, founder of WANTM Toni Kamau". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  9. ↑ Kamau, Richard (2021-10-04). "In Conversation with Film Producer Toni Kamau". Nairobi Wire. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  10. ↑ Mahugu, Jacque. "Charming Lupita Nyong'o graces 'Vogue' cover". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  11. ↑ "Silicon Savannah | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs". www.bullfrogfilms.com. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  12. 1 2 "LBx Africa". lbxafrica.com. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  13. ↑ Release, Press (2023-09-06). "From Documentaries to Podcasts: We Are Not The Machine Explores New Frontiers in African Storytelling". FrontPageAfrica. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  14. ↑ Carey, Matthew (2021-02-03). "Oscar Contender 'Softie' Tells "David And Goliath" Story Of Idealistic Kenyan Political Candidate". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  15. ↑ Perez, Tanya (2020-04-07). "Spotlight Interview: Producer Toni Kamau on bringing Kenya's first film to Sundance 2020". Ms. In The Biz. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  16. ↑ "'Minari' wins top awards at the Sundance Film Festival, as women sweep directing prizes". Los Angeles Times. 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  17. ↑ Kimeria, Ciku (2020-06-04). "'I Am Samuel' Is the Story of a Gay Kenyan Man Struggling to Reconcile Family Duty and Identity". okayafrica. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  18. ↑ "The 12 Best Movies We Saw at Sundance 2024". Vulture. 2024.
  19. ↑ "The Battle for Laikipia review". The Guardian. 2024.
  20. ↑ on, Benjamin Kempas 34pc. "Africa in Motion: Toni Kamau – Producer Masterclass". My SDI. Retrieved 2026-04-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ "Tithes and Offerings selected for Biennale College Cinema". Sinema Focus. 2025.
  22. ↑ "Money Town selected for Red Sea Labs SeriesLab". Sinema Focus. 2025.
  23. ↑ Tracy, Andrew. "Extra: "Battle for Laikipia" producer honored at Sundance; Wildscreen opens call for '24 Panda Awards". Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  24. ↑ "T5 interview with Toni Kamau". Daily Nation. 2021-10-02. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  25. ↑ Byrd, Michelle (2021-03-24). "Winners Announced for 32nd Annual PGA Awards". Producers Guild. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
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